Godship

  "But you knew what I was thinking," I said, astounded. "About your teeth, I mean."

  "Yes, of course. That's the mental communication I was speaking of. I don't think my hosts recognize electromagnetic transmissions. That's why your attempts to contact them via radio waves failed. However, when the world synchronized their thoughts, that succeeded. Fascinating, don't you think?"

  "But we did receive some radio signals," I said. "That's when I first heard your gurg...uh, I heard you laughing. That's what it sounded like. Mostly unrecognizable, except for your laugh."

  "Hmm, that's strange. As far as I know, my hosts don’t use radio waves and I have no idea how my voice got on any transmission. But then there are so many things I don't know, but I'm eager to learn."

  David leaned back against a smooth wall and looked me up and down.

  "The ships were gathering water," I said. "Am I right?"

  "For a few years, yes."

  "And saltwater, when they were over the Pacific Ocean."

  "No, my boy, they were visiting a friend."

  "A friend?"

  "Yes. As I understand it, an earlier Godship had gone down in the Pacific, thousands of years ago. It's still there, functioning but not moving. Perhaps their anti-gravity mechanism failed and they sunk to the bottom. The Aztecs were aware of the comings and goings of that particular craft–they called it the Water God, Atlaua. Aztec legends also speak of an alien race that resemble upright reptiles. I suspect that our Godship friends had something to do with that. However, the hosts on that vessel at the bottom of the Pacific won't die, they'll just keep collecting data and attempting to survive."

  I was amazed to learn that these spacecraft had visited Earth many times, long ago. In fact, I was surprised to learn that David spoke of an alien race, hosts on the space vessels, actual beings of some sort. I always assumed that that was the case. There must be physical beings because of the flashing red lights. Why else would there be lights? For whose benefit?

  "By the way," David said, "you look rather uncomfortable in pajamas and bare feet. Would you like some more suitable attire? It needn't be a tuxedo. I just thought it would be nice if I met you in a tuxedo." David grinned, like a child that had found the cookie jar.

  "Uh, yes, that'd be nice."

  "Then do it...you know how."

  I couldn't imagine changing my clothes by just thinking, but I thought of a sweater and a pair of slippers, then I waited.

  "No, it won't happen immediately," David said. "Give it time. I have no idea how they do it, but they seem to be able to forge material objects if they know the molecular structure. I should show you my rooms. They are quite nice."

  David turned and began to walk toward a solid wall. I was reluctant to follow, but the wall dissolved and David walked right through. I quickly caught up with him. No way I wanted to be left to my own devices in this cold and empty room. The wall closed behind us and we found ourselves in comfortable living quarters. An overstuffed chair, a sofa with end tables, a wall of books, maroon carpet, indirect lighting; I couldn’t make out the source of light.

  "Have a seat, Gordon," David said. "I rethought the sofa last week. You'll like it."

  I collapsed into the sofa.

  "My God, David. This is spectacular, but where are your hosts? What do they look like? Little green men with bulging eyes? With hands and feet and..."

  "There are no people here, not that you'd recognize as a life form. There are just machines. This entire ship is a machine. The walls are sentient, cognizant. They move and reform themselves and, in particular, they listen. Sometimes I can hear a faint buzz. I'm not sure, but I think the various components of the ship are talking to each other. In any case, you won’t find any one to talk to–not on this ship."

  "The other Godships. How about them? Any signs of life? Why the flashing red lights on the panels, on the wall? Who sees them?"

  "No sign of life as far as I can tell. I've been puzzling this for months. It seems that some race created these vessels and set them on an endless journey about the galaxy. All the features necessary to maintain themselves are built into the vessel. There is no visual evidence of the original creators, no pictures, no video, no documents. From time to time the ships have to make a pit stop, for metals, for certain silica compounds, for water. That usually takes a few months, then we're off again. Like human cell tissue, the ship regenerates itself. One day I saw a wall slowly dissolve and a replacement appear in its stead. Quite a remarkable sight to behold."

  "When you left, last time, there was a global heat wave on the planet. Why was that? Were your hosts angry?"

  "Ah yes. That was funny. Your message, that planet-wide thought, was misinterpreted. You may have thought that the whole world thought exactly the same thing, but that was not the case. Go away? Did you really think that's what the whole world wanted? Many believed that these vessels contain some kind of God, so a large fraction of the planet made wishes, more money, fewer working hours, elaborate holidays, sexual favors. The mental storm was overwhelming to my hosts. I could hear the buzz as my hosts were deciding what to do. When they began the global temperature manipulation, I was surprised. I tried to tell them that they got it wrong, but my powers of mind interaction were not well developed. It took me weeks to convince them to stop."

  "Interesting. So you've been travelling for years with these vessels, wandering the galaxy?"

  "Years? Not really. I calculate seven months and a few days. I know what you're thinking. Einstein's time dilation. Yes, that happens. I can't tell by looking out a window, but we must often be travelling at close to light speed. Distant constellations seem to become next door neighbors overnight. In fact, I sometimes see no stars at all and believe we're in some alternate reality, a parallel universe."

  "And the absence of stars, the black halo about the ships. How do they do that?"

  "I have no idea. Indeed, I can't ascertain how they defy gravity, how they hover. I suspect that the manipulation of gravity is responsible for the absence of stars. Light can be bent, you know, by large gravity fields. That means no starlight. I learned that just last month while taking a course in general relativity."

  "You take courses?"

  "Well, not as you might think. No lecturer, no notes, no writing board, just mental images and mind interaction. These machines that run the ship know all about stuff like that. Indeed, they use distorted spatial geometries to navigate the galaxy. Just last week I finished a course in quantum physics. Wave-particle duality and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, that's easy, but I still don't get quantum entanglement. It would appear that..."

  "David, are you happy?" I interrupted. "I mean, very nice living quarters and your choice of foods, I imagine. New teeth, smooth skin, cellular regeneration–that's all very well, but aren't you lonely?"

  "When I lived on Earth, then I was lonely. I was, in fact, miserable. I had little to eat. I couldn't afford heat or light and lived in a hovel, in the cold, in the dark every evening. Ah, but here I have everything, including companionship."

  "You do? You mean the machines?"

  "No, no. I mean humans. My hosts levitated some humans, natives. They've been with me for a few days now. They're being taught mind delivery. Soon I'll be able to talk to them. Well, I mean I'll be able to read their minds as they will mine."

  "Was that your idea, this abduction of natives?"

  "Actually, no. Although I did occasionally express my feelings about having a companion, my hosts ignored my wishes. After all, on Earth I had no one and liked it that way. I suspect my hosts knew my loathing for the human race. However, I believe that one of the duties of the vessel machines is to create new life forms. I'm guessing, of course, but they've visited several planets and levitated several life forms and now they seem to be breeding them. I'm not allowed to approach the alien life, but I'm aware of their presence. I suspect that this breeding scheme is built into their programming."

  "So, our supposition was true. In
terbreeding. That was the conclusion we came to back home. But if you can't approach the natives, why do you say you have companionship?"

  "I have you." David was grinning again, then added: "And others."

  That sent a shiver down my spine.

  "Well, I'm pleased that we've met but I don't think this life is for me. I would like to take some pictures, however, just to convince the folks back home that I was on a Godship. Can your hosts make a digital video disk for me?"

  "Oh, there's no going home. We're here, you and I, for good. But you'll like it. Indeed, I understand that we'll have access to the native women, soon." David giggled, a small unobtrusive but familiar giggle.

  Part 3.2

  After Gordon vanished, I called 911 and explained to Constable Kerry when he arrived.

  "My husband and I were having breakfast, this morning, on the balcony." I pointed to the balcony. "I saw a Godship, in the distance. It was getting closer. I pointed it out to my husband. When the craft was almost overhead, I saw Gordon fade. He seemed to dissolve. In a few seconds he was gone, completely."

  "He disappeared. Is that what you're saying?'

  Although he was writing it down in a small book, I could tell he was skeptical.

  "Yes, he disappeared...and I haven't seen him since."

  "How do you explain that, ma'am. I mean, how did he manage to disappear before your eyes. A kind of Houdini trick?"

  Kerry had a stupid grin on his face. He was quite ill-looking, with a pointed nose, huge gut, thin lips and almost no eyebrows–and I could see that, beneath his hat, he was bald.

  "How did he disappear? That's why I called you. I have no idea. He just...just disappeared. One minute he was there and the next..."

  "Poof, he vanished." Kerry was an ass. I felt I had inherited Gordon's penchant for thinking badly of people. I wasn't normally like that, but this idiot deserved my dislike. I was sure that Gordon had been abducted, just like old man David. Surely this officer could understand that. The fact that the media had discussed the old man's abduction many, many times was surely sufficient confirmation that Gordon had been captured as well.

  "I think my husband was abducted by the alien ship," I said.

  "Did you see any little green men?" Again, that silly grin.

  "Yes. Hey! Look out! There they are, right behind you! The aliens!"

  Kerry jumped a foot in the air, dropping his notebook. He spun about and was about to pull his revolver. Sandy started barking. Kerry looked stunned. Our dog took a mouthful of his pant leg in his mouth and started pulling. Kerry shook off the dog, bent to pick up his notebook and Sandy grabbed his hat from his head.

  My dog loved to steal things: socks, shoes, anything. He would hide them under the bed or sofa. The Constable took off in pursuit and managed to grab his hat before it vanished beneath the couch. If I weren't so upset at Gordon's disappearance I would have found the scene hilarious. However, Gordie was gone and I didn't know when or how he'd get back. Old man David had been abducted yet returned for hamburger and fries, as I recall. I guessed that Gordie might return as well...sometime.

  Kerry was angry. He grunted: "If we find your husband we'll contact you. I'll find my way out." Then he left and I collapsed onto the sofa. Sandy joined me. I had an afternoon class to teach, but I couldn't bring myself to even get dressed. I phoned a colleague and asked her if she could take my class. It was a course on contemporary fiction, in particular science fiction. It was somehow appropriate. The next time I faced my class I'd have a story to tell: Godship facts and fallacies.

  I went out on the balcony again after eating a very small lunch of rye and tuna salad. After capturing Gordon, the Godship had moved off a little ways but was still visible on the horizon. It was almost noon and the sun's reflection off the spacecraft gave it a warm, ruddy glow. I hoped Gordie was safe. Then it occurred to me that he only had pajamas and bare feet. Silly man. On his days off he spent the entire day in his pajamas. Shoes, he said, boiled his feet, so it was bare feet and pajamas. On those lazy days he wouldn't even shave. I hated that and told him so. Before we married he was always so well dressed. I guess you don't really know a person until you have to live with them 24/7. Gordon could be a slob at times.

  Why am I being so critical? I love Gordon. He's the most considerate, thoughtful and gentle person I know. He may occasionally speak ill of someone but he at least recognizes that as a shortcoming. I can't expect him to change his ways, comfortable as they are to him. I certainly didn't change my ways after we got married. I felt the tears well up and I sat in a chair and cried. Sandy began to whine. I picked up the dog and cried onto his back. He licked my hand. I felt awful. Gordie, please come back. I love you so very much.

  Part 3.3

  It was several days later that I got the phone call. The space ship was now gone. My globephone plays a Mozart concerto when it rings and that always gets Sandy upset. I picked up the dog and the phone at the same time so that the dog wouldn't bark.

  "Hello," I said. "Susan Blend here."

  "Hello sweetheart."

  I dropped the dog, my heart pounding.

  "Gordie, is that you?" I ran to the sofa to sit down. My legs felt waxen.

  "Yes and you'll never guess where I am."

  "On...uh, on the Godship."

  "Well, I was on the Godship. In fact, I thought I'd have to spend the rest of my life on that contraption. But I'm actually in town, near the Skyway Bridge. I have no idea how I got here, but I'm here nevertheless. Can you come to pick me up? You'll recognize me. I'm wearing..."

  "Pajamas and bare feet."

  "No, actually I'll be wearing a bright red suit and yellow tie. I hate the sartorial splendor but that's what they gave me."

  "They? Who's they? And how did you get back? The Godship has disappeared. And why on the Skyway Bridge? And..."

  "If you pick me up I'll explain everything. It's quite amusing. I wasn't amused a short while ago, but now I realize that it was quite an adventure."

  "I'll be there in ten minutes," I said, breathless.

  I tossed the phone on the couch without saying goodbye and ran to the door, to the elevator, back to the apartment to get the car keys, then down to the parking garage. I was at the bridge in eight minutes. Gordie was standing by the side of the road, his crimson suit radiant. I stood on the brakes and screeched to a halt.

  "Hi sweetheart," he said as he slid in beside me." I missed you." He bent over to kiss me.

  "Gordon Blend! You've made me a nervous wreck. From now on I'll attach you to my bed with ball and chain." I gave him a short peck then punched him in the ribs. "And you must give up your fascination with alien space ships. And you must never, never speak of Godship adventures or..."

  "Aw, c'mon Susan. I'm back, safe and sound. You'll want to hear all about it. David was there, in the Godship. You won't believe what he's become. No more the haggard old man."

  I was shaking, so we switched places and Gordon drove home. When we got to the apartment, Sandy was very wary. He sniffed Gordie's clothing and growled. Gordie picked him up but he struggled to free himself so Gordie put him down.

  Gordie was smiling. "I think Sandy sees me as an alien. I'm not surprised. However, those aliens are not what we'd expect. They're machines, not biological beings."

  "Gordie, please sit down. I'll get us a drink, a stiff drink."

  When I returned with two martinis, very dry, Gordie had his feet up on the coffee table. I was about to complain, but thought better of it. He could do whatever he pleased. I was just happy to have him back. I'd never again complain about his behavior or conduct or what he preferred to wear or eat or anything. Gordie looked content. Even Sandy looked content.

  "Susan, they're travelling the cosmos. I don't understand the reason for that, but David thinks they were created by some ancient civilization. They're machines, computer-driven, with the ability to communicate via mental transmissions. These machines are not independent objects you can see or touch. They're the Godshi
p itself. It can reform materials, modify DNA, reconstruct itself and travel at speeds close to the speed of light. That's three hundred thousand kilometers per second. Can you imagine that? In fact, David thinks they can travel faster than light speed. He thinks that they can travel from star to star in just a few months by moving to some other analogous space."

  "David thinks that? Old man David, the guy with the straggly hair who wolfed down my hamburgers?"

  "Oh, Susan, you wouldn't recognize the guy. He's super smart and dressed slick as a whistle. He even has a new set of ivory teeth. He spouts equations like you and I might spout soup recipes. He understands relativity, quantum mechanics, string theory, cosmology–everything. He communicates with his hosts by mental declarations."

  "Mental what? His hosts? Gordie, what are you talking about?"

  "His hosts, as he calls them, are the Godships, the machines, the robotic self aware computing systems. They communicate via brain waves, mind delivery, mental interaction. Don’t ask me how that's done, but David has learned how to do it. He says that brain waves travel at the speed of light and extend well beyond the range of electromagnetic waves–without attenuation. I asked David about that. He said that normal electromagnetic radiation decreases with the square of distance because the surface area of a sphere increases as the square of the radius. That was confusing, to me, although I vaguely remember reading something like that. Then he said mind waves can travel in some of the other ten space dimensions where attenuation is not a factor. Now that really floored me. Ten other space dimensions? Remarkable, eh? David thinks that's how the Godships can travel great distances without being limited by the speed of light which, according to Einstein's way of thinking, is an upper limit on speed. But that'd be a speed limit in our familiar three dimensional space."

  I listened carefully, but comprehension failed me.

  "Gordon, how did you get back, on the Skyway Bridge, and what about that terrible red suit and where is David now and when will the aliens be leaving?"

  "I asked to be brought back. Well, I actually thinked it and there I was, standing on the bridge. It's that mind communication, you know." Gordon was smiling. He was obviously enjoying himself.